Thats it. Russia is tied into Saleh because of all the billions owed for the MIGs and other hardware.
HOOD Condemns arms dealing and Calls to “Stand together to stop war”
HOOD followed with great concern the developing military tension in Yemen, which form catastrophic internal war threatens the most significant human rights, right to life and safety first and other basic rights that require a reasonable presence of the State services. (Read on …)
Russia, Yemen’s largest bilateral creditor due to enormous weapons purchases especially the big ticket MIGs, has a vested economic state in the survival of the Saleh regime. Check my category Russia for earlier.
Tribesmen of the revolution – west of the capital Sanaa – were able to prevent the movement of a large force made up of columns of tanks, vehicles and armored trains loaded with weapons and ammunition, which was on its way to the capital Sana’a. The sources said that the convoy is from an arms deals with Russia, which arrived at the port of Hodeidah recently and includes 40 tanks and many other equipment. (Read on …)
Video: Yemeni children in Arhab run for the caves as the bombing starts
Yemen owes Russia hundreds of millions for the same MIGs the regime is using to murder its own citizens. Russia is Yemen’s single largest bi-lateral creditor due to huge weapons purchases; the state is thought to have at least 18 MIGs in inventory. Russia along with China opposes regime change in Yemen and thwarted strong statements in the UN Security Council. Russia is also playing the al Qaeda card, saying the protests are hampering the regime from battling the fanatics.
The Russian article is titled Yemen fights with Al Qaeda: In the early hours of Tuesday, Yemeni forces had a fight with Al Qaeda militants in the region of Arhab in the country’s northeast. Over 20 militants were killed…Yemen’s authorities would have probably fought with Al Qaeda in their country more successfully, if not for the unstable political situation.
CNN: Fighting has been virtually nonstop for the past two months in the Arhab district, 40 kilometers (about 25 miles) northeast of Sanaa, after tribal leaders went against the government claiming that it killed four tribal members in an effort to create unrest in the district.
In the most recent bloodshed on Tuesday, witnesses said civilians comprised most of the dead from air attacks by the Republican Guard. At least 17 of the dead were children and women, they said, while only nine tribal fighters were among the killed.
At least a dozen fighters were injured, witnesses said. At least 45 tanks and armored vehicles were seen entering Arhab villages during early morning Tuesday, tribal leaders in the area said.
There’s a vid on FB that I am trying to get on Youtube of little children running from the bombing to nearby caves. Obviously some didn’t make it.
Yemen owes Russia 1.2 billion (USD) for the MIG’s and other military hardware. GCC SecGen may return for a second try after the last fiasco; second trip already delayed once.
Yemen Post: The opposition bloc, the Joint Meeting Parties, meets later today a Russian delegation in Yemen’s capital Sana’a as the political crisis deepens, an official said. (Read on …)
I know why, Saleh owes Russia $1.3 billion for the MIG’s and other military hardware. Russia is Yemen’s largest bi-lateral creditor and the debt is nearly all from the weapons deals.
Update: Yemen Times headline says it all: GCC talks with government delegation flop, UN Security Council fails to issue resolution
BBC: UN Security Council members have called for restraint and dialogue between protesters and authorities in Yemen.
But the Council’s first talks on the crisis ended in New York without an agreed public statement, with diplomats saying Russia objected.
Security forces earlier reportedly opened fire on anti-government protesters in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, and the southern city of Taiz. (Read on …)
Update: Saleh refuses GCC initiative to mediate a peaceful exit, says its unconstitutional, this coming from a war criminal who hasn’t obeyed a law in…ever.
The GCC Saudi Initiative
1) President Saleh to announce to step down and transfer his powers to his deputy.
2) emphasis on ensuring safety and the lack of any prosecution of him and all his relatives and the Elements of the system.
3) to form a government of national unity to have the mission operation and running of the country for a limited period and to prepare for a referendum on the constitution and parliamentary and presidential elections and may also form committees as it deems necessary.
4) If this initiative to be approved by all parties then all are invited to Riyadh to sign it and begin its implementation immediately.
In the same context, the GCC sources said that the GCC mediation recognizes and understands the importance of the need to contain the aspirations of the initiative of all parties of Yemen, led by young people, which Saleh leave/Departure is their main demands.
(Read on …)
Yemen – Saleh: My visit to Russia to discuss military deals’ debts
President Ali Abdullah said he discussed with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin Yemen’s debt of military purchases which exceeded USD 2 billion. (Read on …)
Thats why Yemen’s single largest foreign creditor by far is Russia. IPSN
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), one of the world’s best known think tanks researching arms control and disarmament, Russia accounted for nearly 59 percent of all major weapons deliveries to Yemen during 2004-2008, followed by Ukraine at 25 percent, Italy at 10 percent, Australia’s five percent, and the United States at less than one percent. (Read on …)
The Yemen Observer is an English language Yemeni government mouthpiece in disguise, as is obvious from their reporting, ownership and associates, but every now and then the paper gives a factual account when it works to the advantage of the regime. Russia’s Mig upgrades added a lot to the Yemeni debt. The potential Russian use of Yemeni ports has been thrown around as a possible offset.
Yemen’s foreign debt has increased from $8.9 million to $5.9 billion since July 2009, according to the report on banking and currency developments issued by the Yemen Central Bank. (Read on …)
Russia is Yemen’s biggest creditor by far.
President Saleh’s recent visit to Russia raised a great deal of media fuss and this fuss was associated with the nature of the visit. The official media mentioned that Saleh’s visit was meant for canceling Yemen’s debts as well as the economic cooperation, while the international media revealed that Yemen signed weapons deals at billions of US Dollars. This was later affirmed by the official media as they revealed that the country signed a four-billion dollar weapons deal, the biggest deal ever. (Read on …)
The multi-million deal to upgrade the Migs with the Ukranian Defense Ministry was only a few months ago. (Smart bombs in the hands of the Yemeni military…) Russia is Yemen’s largest creditor by far. (The Saudi debt is only around 400K.) But dire national interest takes second place to new toys. Are they for Saada or the South or the black market?
In June 2008, the US and Yemen signed their first end use monitoring agreement on mil hardware which will allow for the verification of articles and services provided to Yemen under U.S.-sponsored military and security assistance, thus preventing the misuse or illicit transfer of these items and services. We hope. Its not nice when your counter-terror assistance is used to target a civilian population or is sold onto the black market. Russia, China and North Korea have no such restrictions.
Natural Gas came up as a topic. The YLNG presold 9 TCF but there’s thought to be upto 16 TCF. Saleh tried to wrangle a debt write off, but no. And the unending shopping spree will continue as the head of the Air Force, Field Marshal Saleh’s half brother, Mohammed Saleh al-Ahmar, is heading to Oman this month for an industry conference.
Washington, DC – Following the visit of Yemeni resident ‘Ali ‘Abdallah ‘Salih to Russia last week, the two countries have signed a deal worth an estimated $1 billion that would see some very sophisticated Russian weaponry exported to Yemen, the official Yemen news agency SABA reported.Among the weaponry are a number of MiG-29 fighter jets, attack and transport helicopters, T-80 and T72 tanks and armored vehicles, in addition to modern telecommunications equipment, the news agency reported.
In exchange, the Russian government-owned gas giant Gazprom announced that it intended to invest in gas and oil projects in Yemen.
Among the plans is the construction of a plant that would be able to handle 6.7 million tons of gas yearly. It is estimated that Yemen has a 16,951-billion cubic feet gas reserve. (Read on …)
Update: Russia denies plans finalized.
I hope the base is not on poor Socotra of the pristine unexplored biodiversity…
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia has decided to establish naval bases in Libya, Syria and Yemen within a few years, Itar-Tass news agency quoted military officials as saying on Friday, in a sign of Moscow’s growing foreign policy ambitions.
“It is difficult to say how much time it will take to create the bases for our fleet in these countries, but within a few years this will be done without question,” a military official was quoted as saying. “The political decision on this question has been taken,” the official said.
Kill fisherman
SAN’A, Yemen A Russian helicopter attack on Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden earlier this week killed a Yemeni fisherman and three others, security officials said Thursday.
The fishermen were in two boats nearby when the Russian helicopter fired on pirates in three speedboats trying to hijack a Dutch container ship on Tuesday, said two officials from Yemen’s Interior Ministry and coast guard….
The helicopter was dispatched from a Russia warship that was sent to the area in September after Somali pirates hijacked a Ukrainian freighter, the Faina, with a cargo of battle tanks and three Russian crew members.
MOSCOW, October 26 (RIA Novosti) – A missile frigate from Russia’s Baltic Fleet arrived at the port of Aden in Yemen on its way to join an international naval group fighting piracy off the coast of Somalia, the Russian Navy said.
“After water and food replenishments, the warship will carry out measures to protect shipping in the coastal waters of Somalia where sea pirates are active. In particular, the Neustrashimy frigate may escort passenger and merchant vessels,” the Russian Navy said, adding that the warship had the right to use force, including weapons, against pirates.
The Neustrashimy (Fearless) frigate is to join an international naval group, which has surrounded a Ukrainian ship, the MV Faina, after it was seized by Somali pirates on September 25. The Faina, which was carrying tanks and heavy weapons, has a crew of 17 Ukrainian nationals, two Russians, and one Lithuanian on board.
The Faina’s Russian captain died of a heart attack after the vessel was seized. The pirates holding the ship have demanded an $8 million ransom, and have threatened to kill the hostages if a military operation is launched against them.
The Neustrashimy’s armament includes SS-N-25 Switchblade anti-ship missiles, SA-N-9 Gauntlet SAM, a 100-mm gun, torpedoes and depth charges. The frigate also carries a Ka-27 ASW helicopter.
Pirates are increasingly active in the waters off Somalia, which has no effective government and no navy to police its coastline. Somali pirates have seized around 30 ships so far this year off the coast of the east African nation.
Possible Base
Sana’a, 16 Oct. (ITAR-TASS). The speaker of the Federation Council Sergey Mironov does not exclude the possibility that during the Yemeni President would bring up the issue of re-establishing Russian naval bases on Socotra Island in the Gulf of Aden during his visit to Moscow.
In answer to the question if Russia has any plans to do so, Mironov said, “I think that this theme will be discussed concretely during Ali Abdallah Saleh’s visit to Moscow”. Mironov did not discuss the length of the visit.
The speaker considers the future use of Yemeni ports by the Russian Navy as well as re-establishment of a base to be possible. “We have to proceed step by step, taking into account new vectors in the foreign and defense policies of Russia and the increase in op tempo by the Navy. I think that its possible that we will examine the issue of the use of Yemeni ports by Russian Naval ships”, he said.
Ukranian, (like the tanks?)
The Miracle MiG Makeover
October 14, 2008: Egypt and Yemen have hired a Ukrainian firm to upgrade most of their MiG-21 fighters. Egypt has 62 MiG-21s, while Yemen has 47. Egypt had earlier upgraded some of its MiG-21s with British electronics. The Ukrainian firm (Odesaremservis), will install a modern, digital, cockpit (flat panel color displays and far fewer switches and buttons to deal with). Installed under the aircraft will be a laser designator and camera so that the aircraft can deliver smart bombs.The 9.5 ton MiG-21 is a 1950s design. Poor flight controls and lousy visibility limited what a good pilot could do with this aircraft. But few good pilots flew the MiG-21, as it was built for poorly trained pilots who mainly followed instructions from someone on the ground. It can carry two tons of bombs and missiles.
After the American experience with smart bombs over the last two years, most air forces have accepted the fact that the more expensive (starting at $30,000 each) smart bombs are more effective than the much cheaper ($500 or less) dumb bombs. This potentially makes the MiG-21 a much more effective aircraft.
The Ukrainian firm also offers the Sura targeting helmet, which enables the pilot to look at the target and fire a Russian R-73 heat seeking missile, that will then go after the target the pilot is looking at. If the MiG-21 is facing roughly equivalent aircraft, the Sura helmet makes the aircraft a much more effective dog-fighter.
The Ukrainian cockpit and targeting upgrade costs several million dollars per aircraft.
from Russia, Yemen Post
Yemen announced that it will postpone the regional summit for fighting piracy, which was planned to be held in Sana’a next week. Participating countries were expected to sign a memorandum of understanding for mutual cooperation between them in fighting piracy.
From his part, Minster of Transportation, Khalid Al-Wazir, told media outlets that the postponing came in response to the Regional Center for Combating Piracy request, adding that the summit will be held later this year.
Al-Wazir assured that Yemen will establish a center in Sana’a for monitoring ships in collaboration with 20 countries and International Maritime Organization.
In the meantime, seven military ships from six different countries have headed to Bab Al-Mandab Strait and Gulf of Aden in a mission to fight Somali pirates, and to protect trade ships and fisheries from pirates operations, whose attacks have risen over the last few months, especially in the international waters between Yemen and Somalia.
This comes within the country’s efforts to restrict piracy activities targeting ships off Yemen’s coasts, especially in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean.
Piracy activities have long been a headache for international navigation in the Gulf of Aden, which is one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes and connects Asia and Europe.
A Yemeni official who preferred not to reveal himself, told a Chinese agency that president Saleh’s visit to regional countries came as the result of the Yemeni government’s worry for business ships that pass by the Gulf of Aden.
The sudden movement by regional countries came after pirate’s hijacked a Ukrainian ship that was believed to be carrying seven tankers. Further, pirates warned that they would explode the ship if procedures were taken against them.
Sources who asked to be left anonymous mentioned to the Yemen Post that the tanks that were on the Ukrainian ship were on their way to Yemen, and were part of the military agreement signed between Russia and Yemen.
Chairman of the Russian Federation Council Mrs. Sergey Meronof said last Friday while visiting Yemen that her country intends to send more military ships soon to free the Ukrainian ship if needed.
Increased Russian Naval Presence, Increased Use of Yemen’s Ports for Military and other Goals
Russia could resume naval presence in Yemen
SANA, October 16 (RIA Novosti) - The speaker of Russia’s upper house of parliament said on Thursday that Russia could resume a naval presence in Yemen.
Authorities in the Middle East country are calling on Moscow to help fight piracy and possible terrorist threats. The U.S.S.R. had a major naval base in the former socialist state of South Yemen, which merged with North Yemen in 1990 to form the present-day Yemen.
Speaking to journalists in Sana, the capital of Yemen, Federation Council Speaker Sergei Mironov said the new direction of Russia’s foreign and defense policies and an increase in its naval missions would be taken into consideration when making a decision on the request.
“It’s possible that the aspects of using Yemen ports not only for visits by Russian warships, but also for more strategic goals will be considered,” he said. (Read on …)
Of Yemen’s 5.9 billion in external debt, Yemen owes Russia about one billion for military hardware including the Mig 29’s.
Preparations at Yemeni Foreign Ministry are underway for President Saleh’s expected visit to Russia in which he seeks to buy large quantities of weapons.
Diplomatic sources announced that Saleh’s visit comes at a time the region witnesses complicated developments together with Russia’s differences with western countries and America over the last Russian-Georgian conflict.
The same sources further indicated that Yemen has balanced stances of world powers, hinting the visit comes within the frame of the developed relations between Yemen and Russia.
Observers note that Saleh seeks to buy modern Russian fighters and reinforce the military arsenal after a four-year war in Sa’ada that exhausted the country’s both budget and military armament.
Defence Minister Mohammed Nasser Ahmed concluded a successful several-day visit to Russia.
During his visit to Moscow, the Defence Minister held talks with a number of Russian officials on the aspects of cooperation relations between the two countries, particularly in fields of military and Combating and preventing terrorism.
Ahmed also met at Yemen’s embassy in Moscow with Yemeni undergraduates studying in Russian military academies in which he delivered a speech focusing on a number of the national issues and the latest developments witnessed in the homeland, especially the rebellion movement in some districts of Saada governorate.
He confirmed that his country’s government had dealt with the al-Houthi rebellion in accordance with the interests of the country.
For the concern situations in some southern provinces, Defence Minister Mohammed Ahmed considered them “an expression of less than 20 or 30 persons only”.
(Also Iran with regard to the nuclear file and China with regard to Tibet.)
Well if Russia want to resolve conflicts in accordance with SC resolutions, then they support the overdue implementation of 924 and 931.
MOSCOW, April 30 (RIA Novosti) – Yemen has endorsed a Russia-proposed concept for ensuring security in the Persian Gulf, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said after talks with his Yemeni counterpart, Abu Bakr Abdallah al-Qirbi, on Wednesday.
Russia’s concept envisions, in particular, that all disputes and conflicts in the Gulf be resolved on the basis of international law and in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions.
“Yemen, just as other countries in the region, is interested in a more stable and secure Persian Gulf. Russia has some ideas on this score, which are supported by our Yemeni friends – ideas aimed at creating a security system in the region,” Lavrov said.
The Yemeni minister said he agreed with Lavrov’s position.
“We believe that the security concerns that exist in the Persian Gulf can be addressed on the basis of the strategic security concept for the Gulf that has been proposed by the Russian Federation,” Abu Bakr Abdallah al-Qirbi said. (Read on …)
Time for a little levity, Saleh to get Russian medal for peace efforts.
26 September Net
It is scheduled to arrive Sana’a in 17 May a delegation comprised of the civil organizations in Federal Republic of Russia in a visit for discussing with Yemeni civil organizations aimed to enhancing joint cooperation.
A well-known sources told “26 September Net” that the Russian delegation during his visit will hand over HE President Saleh a higher medal for his role in achieving the world peace as well as his good efforts in solving problems at regional and international levels.
Where HE president Saleh has got during the last years a Russian medal honoring his role in accomplishing Yemeni unity and solving the issues of borders peacefully.
I was surprised to learn Russia is Yemen’s biggest creditor country.
How many years has it been that the regime is planning and publicizing another power station in Marib, four year?
The distinguished political relations between Yemen and Russia must be reflected at the level of economic relations and investment, said Sallah Mohamed Said al-Attar, Chairman of the General Authority for Investment. He called on Russian businessmen to invest in the energy field in Yemen, which is suffering from a large deficit.
“We must exploit the surge of financial power in Russia and due to the high prices of oil and gas invite Russian companies to work in Yemen,” said al-Attar during a meeting with a delegation of Russian businessmen.
Al-Attar said that the production of electrical power in Yemen would reach 1600 megawatts after a second electrical station in Marib has been opened which will produce 320-400 megawatts. Electricity gas stations will be established with a capacity of up to 800 megawatts, and there is a government direction to build five lines of liquefied gas from Marib to Ma’abar providing energy production. (Read on …)
Armies of Liberation website was banned by Yemeni authorities in 2007 and remains blocked by government censors despite a partial regime change in 2012.
Yemen Articles 2004-2010
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